In the beginning
Christianity first came to York at the time of the Roman occupation as a forbidden faith whose followers could expect to be persecuted. The Romans worshipped a variety of gods, goddesses and dead emperors and in York there were temples to Mars, Mercury, Venus and even the Persian god Mithras. It was the coronation of the Roman Emperor Constantine, here in York in AD 306, that changed forever the fate of Christianity. In AD 312 Constantine declared religious tolerance throughout the Roman Empire. Christianity flourished and the oldest Christian churches in York and all over Europe trace their origins right back to this time.

The fall and rise of Christianity under the Saxons
After the Roman occupation, Christianity declined in the North of England. In 625, however, the pagan King Edwin of Northumbria married Ethelburga, a Christian Princess from Kent who insisted on bringing her priest, Paulinus, with her to York. Two years later, Edwin converted to Christianity, built the first York Minster and was baptised there. In the centuries that followed more and more Kings and Noblemen became Christians. Christianity became the major religion of Britain and the Church became rich, powerful and politically influential.

Medieval wealth and power
The Church dominated life in medieval Britain. Everyone was expected to attend church, and pay a tenth of their earnings to it. Monasteries grew wealthy and powerful and churches were richly adorned with carvings, paintings and stained glass. St Mary's in York was the richest abbey in the North of England and owned vast tracts of land all over Britain. By 1428 there were 39 churches in the city, eight monasteries and friaries and countless chapels and chantries. Nineteen medieval churches are still standing and many are featured in this leaflet.

The Reformation
Between 1536 and 1539 King Henry VIII smashed the power and seized the wealth of the monasteries in England. In York, virtually all of the glorious monastic buildings were confiscated, sold and torn down for their scrap value. Only traces of St Mary's Abbey and Holy Trinity Priory remain. In 1547, all traces of catholicism were stripped from churches. Shrines were destroyed, chantries closed, and statues were desecrated. When Mary, became queen, she set about undoing the recent Protestant changes, restoring catholicism as the official faith and persecuting Protestants by the thousands. When Mary died in 1558, Elizabeth was crowned, established The Church of England, and resumed the persecution of Catholics! In York, many Catholics, both lay people and clergy, were publicly executed for their faith at the Tyburn (near where York Racecourse now stands).

Fire and Brimstone
In 1644, during the English Civil War, York was besieged by the Parliamentarian Army. St Denys', Walmgate and St Olave's, Marygate were severely damaged by cannon fire and according to legend, Sunday morning services in the Minster were disrupted by cannon balls, shattering windows and bouncing off pillars (the story goes that, instead of evacuating the building, the congregation sang louder and louder to drown out the noise!). The Royalist Army eventually surrendered to Sir Thomas Fairfax on the condition that his forces would not loot the Minster. Under Puritan rule, worship in York was stripped to its bare essentials - music, pomp and ceremony were forbidden and plainer Puritan sermons took their place.

Today, York's churches reflect the numerous denominations of modern Christianity and welcome all visitors; whether you come to look at art and architecture, enjoy a moment of peace, or to become involved with the life of the church. Regular services are still held in the majority of churches. All city churches are grateful to receive donations towards their care and restoration. Please give generously and don't forget to sign the visitor book.